Consumer group issues warning on some food dyes

Consumers' group foodwatch wants supermarkets Albert Heijn and Jumbo to remove dozens of products from their shelves because they contain controversial food dyes that could "adversely affect activity and attention in children", NU reports. These labels of these products, including syrups, candies and sodas, contain warnings of the "Southampton Six" E-numbers - the five azo dyes E102, E110, E122, E124 and E129 and the other dye E104. These dyes are called the Southampton Six because researchers at the University of Southampton discovered that these dyes cause hyperactivity in children. This resulted in a mandatory warning on the packaging of all products containing this dye. Foodwatch believes that this is not going far enough. The organization announced on Wednesday that they have started an email campaign to get the products containing these dyes permanently off the shelves. "It is five years later and time that supermarkets take responsibility", the organization said. "Albert Heijn and and Jumbo should not want to take risks with the health of children, just to give a bright color to candy or soda." A spokesperson for Albert Heijn told NU that the supermarket does not sell any products containing E-numbers under its own brand. It does however have about 30 different products from leading brands on the shelves containing these dyes. According to the supermarket, AH is regularly having discussions with these brands on removing the dyes.